Coordinated Attacks in Derbent, Dagestan Leave Trail of Destruction and Fatalities
Gunmen armed with automatic weapons targeted a synagogue and a church in Derbent, Dagestan, resulting in the deaths of a priest and a policeman, as well as multiple casualties and injuries. The Russian Investigative Committee suspects ISIS involvement in the attacks.
On June 23, 2024, coordinated attacks struck both a synagogue and a church in Derbent, Dagestan, a province in southern Russia. Gunmen armed with automatic weapons attacked the religious sites in the evening, resulting in the deaths of a priest and a policeman. The priest, identified as Father Nikolay, 66, had his throat slit, and a security guard at the church was also shot.
Simultaneously, the synagogue caught fire, producing large flames and smoke. Preliminary reports indicate multiple casualties, including at least one police officer killed and another injured. Additionally, a police traffic post in Makhachkala, Dagestan’s capital, was targeted, resulting in at least one injury.
Dagestan Republic Head Sergey Melikov has stated that the identities of the attackers are being established, and an operational headquarters has been created to handle the situation. The Russian Investigative Committee has initiated criminal cases in response to the attacks, which left multiple police officers dead and several people wounded. ISIS is suspected to be behind the attacks, continuing a pattern of violence within Russia.